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Silly thought? Maybe. But certainly my thought---my honest and deep thought ---that rose to the surface as I wrestled with a new health issue in my life that reared it's ugly head last night.
Anger, mixed with sadness. Frustration, mixed-up with worry and fear. ...my heart cried out to the Lord!
I am supposed to be well. All better.
I am supposed to be done with pain and suffering!
I want health! I want well-being. I want to be strong.
...for you... for your glory ... Even as I thought it, there was a 'check' in my spirit.
As I prayed this prayer through tears, a gentle response wafted across my mind. For Me?... Really, Stephanie? You want perfection for Me?
And then came a wordless impression that accompanied the tender question: Do you want my best for you? My best----
His best. After a 25 year journey through pain that was (mostly) healed with an operation June 2011, I have learned that sometime His best... His deep, loving, expansive best... comes through and in pain. Pain is not a bad thing in-and-of-itself, I have learned. Pain can be a gift. God's best for me here on earth can include pain and suffering. Like a wise gardener knows, pain can be pruning... and a tender cutting back---that looks to the outside as ruthless hacking!
Do you trust my boundless love for you? Do you want my best for you, in you? For My glory? My glory in you, through you, for you?
And, I cried some more. And He met me with peace.
I want to be perfect, Lord. I hate being weak and vulnerable. I feel so afraid when I am weak and sick. I hate being the "sick one". I want to be the "well-one" for once!
I know, Stephanie...
Oh Father! But, this might not be for today... Right? Father, maybe this desire for perfection is not for the now. Or, at least, not for today.
My strength is made perfect in your weakness, my sweet girl.
Your strength... Your perfection, Lord. Oh! I have so much yet to learn about You. ...
There are many, many things I know in my head. Things I can write here or preach next week at Bible study. True things. Right things. Some of these things I know well in my heart, too. He has brought them home to me and they sit in my gut---informing my days with peace and wisdom.
But there are other things... other Truths... , many other True things that are harder to swallow depending on the day. Depending on the hour.
I still have trouble seeing You, knowing Your Presence, in the midst of pain, Father.
Yes, ...yes, you do, Stephanie...
So, I ... have further to go in this lesson... higher up, deeper in. I do want Your best. I do trust Your loving hand.
...And, surrender did come this morning. Real, deep, honest surrender to His Love and His best did happen in my heart. This surrender, too, was a moment of His grace...
Because, My grace is sufficient for You, Stephanie (2 Corinthians 12:9,10)